<p>Given her interest in physics and civil engineering (the arch example), if she at least finds the subjects acceptable to her (unlike the humanities which you say she does not like), starting in engineering can make sense, especially given the logical mindset you describe. It would be a relatively easy path to switch to physics, math, or statistics if she chooses to before the end of her second year. Social studies and humanities majors tend to have shorter prerequisite sequences, so if her interests change, it may still be possible to switch even in her second year (though if she currently hates humanities, that seems like an unlikely possibility).</p>
<p>Auburn does have a decent selection of non-engineering subjects to study. If she has a logical mindset, other possible subjects of interest may include physics, math, statistics, computer science, economics, and philosophy.</p>
<p>Dear HI Mom, My DD has been under asthma care since she was a year old or younger. Unfortunately, her philosophy has been that she can “will” asthma away… she thinks if she thinks enough, she can make it go away… But she can’t. So when she takes her meds as prescribed, its generally good. But she doesn’t take her meds as prescribed, and we discuss this often. Re what she wants to do… she honestly has no idea. Finances are an issue, I can’t pay for a school she got in to and wants to attend. Gap year is not an option in my mind.</p>
<p>Thank you UCBA. That is that is the same path I have been going down. If she changes gears and elects not to pursue engineering, I am fine paying for a 5th year. I am just hoping she can make it in engineering if that is what she decides (“I recommend”) she try.</p>
<p>hanaliy - is there any particular part of physics she likes or dislikes more than others? Engineering is basically applied physics, and physics is applied math. The physics presented at the intro/AP level is introductory material. If she finds it interesting then she may find the applications (engineering) much more so. </p>
<p>Another thought if she is really into sports is Sports Medicine. We just met someone recently whose son was majoring in it and was really happy with being able to combine his various interests in one field.</p>
<p>So glad this thread is still alive. I am the OP, and son is registering for next year. One “adviser” is telling him he will be "behind " in his major, and giving him ways to register for the usual 1 semester sophomore year curriculum: </p>
<p>Sophomore Year
Fall Semester S.H.
ELEC 210 Electric Circuit Analysis 3
ENGR 200 Statics 3
MATH 234 Calculus III 4
PHYS 201 Intro to Elec & Mag 4
____ ___ University Core 3</p>
<hr>
<p>17 </p>
<p>This would entail him taking a “programing class” in addition to calculus 2 this summer. She does not know his history. The current plan was to put off circuits, which has a pre req of MATLAB which he withdrew from in January, and just take 14 credits.</p>
<p>He is hoping to take summer classes at Diablo Valley CCC, although it doesn’t look hopeful. He cannot register until mid may, and the classes are filling quickly. He thinks he might be able to get away with “C++”, which he says is for website stuff, instead of Matlab. I can’t believe he is considering this! If he does summer classes at his current school ($$$$$$$), they will only let him take 6 credits, and anything more than calculus 2 would put him over that. I told him “my CC friends” say Matlab is important for internships, and could I please get my CC friends input. </p>
<p>Not that I know anything about CS…but C++ is a basic and important language to know. Son’s co-op job used it, and in his evaluation it was said that he should become more familiar with it.</p>
I think Matlab and C++ are different things. I’m not real familiar with it, but I think Matlab is a calculation tool. It’s basically an application. C++ is a programming language. It seems like these days students are required to take both at some point.</p>
<p>I can’t imagine why they need Matlab to take circuits, unless they use it to solve big matrices for simultaneous algebraic equations (to solve Kirchoff laws KCL and KVL mesh circuits). We used to just do it by hand. But maybe they are expected to learn how to use it and circuits is as good a place as any to apply it.</p>
<p>Edit: I just Wikied MATLAB, and to show how much I know about these new fangled computer thingies, it says it’s a 4th Generation programming language. Still looks like a tool / application dedicated to mathematical caluclations to me, but I guess it is a bit more versatile than I thought. I can see how it might be useful if your internship calls for a lot of calculations. I suppose it is something you could learn OTJ though, at least in a limited way.</p>
It looks to me as if MATLAB is one of the required courses. Don’t know that you could just sub in C++ instead.<br>
MATLAB is really all about matrix operations. Everything is done in terms of matrices, unlike, for example, Mathematica. </p>
<p>OP, I would be much more inclined to suggest going for one of the core requirement courses as a summer course, along with Calc II. Can he redo MATLAB in the fall? Or would that have to wait until Spring?</p>
<p>“My” plan was for him to take MATLAB next summer since it is not a preq for anything else. He would take the other 14 credits as the other sophomores. If he MUST take a “full load”, maybe another core. It would mean putting off circuits until junior or senior year, but circuits isn’t a pre req for anything. He’ll feel " behind", but he could take just about what everybody else is taking and I think he would have a more successful sophomore year. </p>
<p>But that’s just me.</p>
<p>There are two days of classes left, then finals, and I am hoping he passes and brings his GPA up. He, on the other hand, is thinking of a very challenging summer and fall…kids!</p>
<p>C++ isn’t really used for client-side web programming. It can be used for server-side programming but I think that much more work is done in more modern interpreted languages today. C++ has the advantage of being a compiled language. C++ can be pretty hard to learn in one semester. I prefer learning C before C++ as it is a lot to take in in one semester. I would not take C++ to replace MATLAB - two completely different animals.</p>
<p>Alas,engineering curriculum gets tricky due to all of the sequenced classes. It can be frustrating! You can solicit ideas here, but the best advise will come fro the particular college (advisor, dept web pages).</p>
<p>MATLAB generally isn’t taught in CS programs - it’s more often seen in engineering (excluding software engineer) majors. It’s a high-level language environment where you can do far more with less programming compared to 3rd-generation languages like Java and C++.</p>
<p>C# is a Microsoft-specific language. C++ is supported on Microsoft platforms and most non-Microsoft platforms too. So if you learn C++, you can work on a lot of other platforms like Linux. Once you learn one, though, it’s not that hard to learn another. The thing about C# is that you may get used to the Microsoft Integrated Development Environment as it is pretty nice. The problem is when you go to other platforms and have to use vi, emacs and gdb which are crude by comparison - but they are least common denominator tools.</p>
<p>C++ and C are more useful for real time (soft or hard) systems; our super-d-duper consumer electronics gadgets all run C++ under Unix type operating systems. They’re also good for cross-platform development (develop on a PC and run on a target system, which is what we do) and also for across-platform or multi-platform development like write on a Win PC and run on Unix / Mac / etc via abstraction software. We also do that.</p>
<p>C# and my ever favorite Visual Basic are single platform only and while they’re great little languages, leave much to be desired for portability… But their biggest reason for being scratched off a list is simple - Microsoft’s attitude towards scrapping everything once it reaches a decent state and rewriting it, largely to keep the income from certifications, training, etc flowing.</p>
<p>This summer I’m teaching DD2 (9th grader) how to write software… probably C# or Java. Anyone know what AP Computer Science is using?</p>
<p>But math 193, with four sections, is filling quickly. Two off four classes are already full since registration opened one week ago. And he won’t have a shot at registering until May 15th, after continuing students, and then matriculated students. AND I think they need a transcript with his pre reqs two weeks before the registration date. Our local CCC is not offering summer school this year, and none of the Napa or Sacto ones are offering Calc II. I think we have looked at every school you listed.</p>